Pets at Home appoints new CFO

Pets at Home has announced the appointment of Sarah Pollard as its new chief financial officer and executive director.

This comes after former CFO Mike Iddon advised the board of his intention to retire from his role with the company after nine years. He will continue in his role until spring 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

Pollard joins the company from her role as chief financial officer at PZ Cussons Plc which she has held since 2021. Prior to that she was finance director at Birds Eye and deputy CFO at Nomad Foods.

Ian Burke, executive chair, said “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Mike for the contribution he has made since joining the business in 2016. During his tenure, consumer revenues have more than doubled to £2.0bn and we have returned over £500m to shareholders, with Mike leading the business with calmness and a relentless focus on high standards. Mike will leave next year with our best wishes for a happy and well-deserved retirement.

“I am delighted to welcome Sarah to Pets and she brings with her extensive experience gained in highly competitive consumer sectors. The board and I look forward to working alongside her, to deliver value for all our stakeholders – customers, colleagues and shareholders – as we continue to deliver our well-established omnichannel, consumer centric strategy.”

Pollard added: “I am thrilled to be joining Ian and the team at Pets. It is a truly purpose-led business, operating in a robust sector, with a market-leading position from which it can create enduring value for shareholders, and financial success in which all stakeholders can share. I am looking forward to bringing my experience gained from a career in UK retail and consumer product public companies, to build on Mike’s strong legacy and help propel Pets forward on its next exciting chapter.”

It follows the news that Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan has stepped down from her role after a further lowering of profit expectations for the year.